Eoy stone



(No Model.) I

R. STONE.

HIDRAULIGAP PABATUS FOR REMOVING SAND BARS, 6w No. 296,483.

PatentedApr. 8, 1884."

Nrrn ra'rns ATET ROY STONE, OF NFAV YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,483, dated April 8,1884.

Application filed September 24, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, ROY STONE, of the city and State of New York, haveinvented an Inn provenient in Hydraulic Apparatus for BemovingSand-Ba1s,&c., of which the following is a specification.

Bars in rivers and harbors are sometimes formed by freshets and hightides, and become so hard and compact that the ordinary current does notwash them awa in most cases, however, the current is suflicient to carryaway the sand or other material if loosened up and to deposit the samein deep water, or in other places where the current runs less rapidly.Devices have been proposed for stirring up sand-bars and similarobstructions; but they are liable to become entangled in snags and notto cut the channel to a uniform depth. I make use of a submarine plowcomposed of one or more jet-pipes at the lower end of an inclineddrag-frame that is moved along gradually and will rise as it passes overan obstruction. ater is forced through the jetpipes and cuts away thesand and induces a current of water that conveys the sand into the maincurrent or stream, so that itis washed away; and I use downwardly orhorizontal jets to insure uniformity in the depth of the cut, and toprevent the excavating apparatus rising on the sand as it is moved alongover the bar.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation representing my improvedapparatus. Fig. 2 is a side view of the nozzles in larger size. Fig. 3is a front view, and Fig. 4 a section at the line a .r.

The vessel A is to be provided with the necessary engine and pumps forforcing a powerful. current of water through the pipe or hose B B,leading to the excavating apparatus. The submarine plowing device ishollow, so that the water from the pipe or hose B B passes through thesame, and there are one or more jet-tubes, d, that point upwardly at anangle of about fortyfivc degrees and diverge laterally, and there is aweb, 6, of metal, that occupies aforward inclined position and serves asa fender to cause the plow to rise and pass over any ordinaryobstruction-such as a stone or snagas the vessel and apparatus are movedalong in the direction of the current.

The pipe B may be of metal, and provided with a joint or hinge at theedge of the ves so], so that no other support for the submarine plow isemployed; but usually it will be preferable to make use of a flexiblehosepipe, 13, and to connect the plow and pipe B by a beam or frame, H,with the sill-pieces K upon the vessel by joints, so that the same maybe raised or lowered, as required, and drawn along by the movement ofthe vessel in the current or otherwise.

A jet opening or tube is provided at 2", and it is preferably betweenthe two tubes d d,-aud supplied with branch pipe Z, that passes from thepipe B down the front edge of the plow. The jet may issue horizontallyor at a downward inclination, and project from the lowest part of thetube B, or be supplied by the tube Z, as desired. The end of thehorizontal noz zleshould be slightly to the rear of the front edge ofthe web. hen in use the water issuing from the jet-tubes d at an upwardinclination cuts away the sand-bar or similar obstruction, and alsoset-s up an induced circu lat-ion in the water, and the earthy mattersare carried up into the stream or current of the river or harbor andtaken away thereby into deeper water, or to places where the current isnot so rapid, and where portions of such earthy matters subside. The jetat i loosens the earth in a downward or horizontal direction and insuresuniformity of depth.

If this apparatus is placed upon a suitable vessel and kept in activeoperation, the vessel may be permitted to float downstream with thecurrent, as the anti on of the looseningjets is so very rapid that theywill usually plow up the channel as rapidly as the boat is moving.

When the bottom is a muddy deposit, the jets may be projected morenear1y horizontally and diverge at both sides.

There may be a beam or frame,and its plow andjet-tubes at each side ofthe vessel.

I usually prefer to make use of the branch or divided pipe in the plow,one tube Z going down nearly vertical to the jet t, the otherterminating in a curve behind the jets d (I, so as to supply the waterto them with uniformity.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with the vessel orfioatandaninclined connection or drag, of a curved water-pipe at the lower endterminating in ward inclinations, to loosen and raise the solidmaterials into the current of the river, and a web, 6, at the front ofthe water-pipe, to cause the plow to rise and pass over any obstruction15 that is not removed by the water, substantially as set forth.

4. In a hydraulic excavating apparatus, the pipe 13, web 0, jet-tubes d,branch pipe Z, and

connections to the scow and to the water- 20 pumps, substantially as setforth.

Signed by me this 22d day of September, A. D. 1883.

ROY STONE.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. T. PINOKNEY, WILLIAM G. MOTT.

